J.H. Crawford
Encyclopedia
J.H. Crawford is an American-Dutch writer, theoretician of urban sustainability, originator of the carfree city concept and creator of the original reference design
for the carfree city. Crawford is one of the founders of the carfree movement and is the author of two seminal books on the subject, Carfree Cities (2000, Foreword by James Howard Kunstler
, author) and Carfree Design Manual (2009, Foreword by Stavros Dimas
, EU Environment Minister).
Crawford was raised in northeastern North America
and studied sociology and social work
at Johns Hopkins University
and Boston University
. In the late 1970s, following graduate school, he worked providing welfare services to families and children. In 1979, as public transport
ombudsman
for the New Jersey Department of Transportation
, a statewide bus and rail service
operator, Crawford studied public transport
operations in association with the investigation of customer complaints.
In the early 1980s, Crawford served as a consultant to several resorts in coastal South Carolina
. Among these was Sea Pines Plantation
, on Hilton Head Island. This planned beachfront golfing community includes a mix of houses, apartment buildings, restaurants, stores, activities, and Harbour Town, a small, dense community built around a circular boat basin dredged into the island. A quayside promenade, free of cars, surrounds the harbor. The harbor is fronted by multistory condominiums that are some of the most desirable housing on the island. In season and out, many people converge there, despite an entrance fee for nonresidents. This pioneering development was the work of Charles Fraser
.
Also while in South Carolina, Crawford came under the influence of Christopher Alexander
's A Pattern Language
, a volume that the Next Whole Earth Catalog
referred to as "The most important book in architecture" and the work that provided Crawford with a theoretical basis for understanding the popularity of partially carfree communities such as Harbour Town. This initiated his decades-long study of the advantages of carfree areas
and the challenges they present.
He moved to Amsterdam
, The Netherlands in 1991 and became a dual national
of the USA and The Netherlands. He first visited Venice
in 1991, a visit that gave a considerable impetus to his research.
In 1996 he put the carfree city concept on the Internet and gave a presentation at the Residential 2000 conference in Shanghai
, China
. Since 1997 he has been the editor and publisher of Carfree.com and Carfree Times.
Since 2000 he has been a regular lecturer and radio presenter
on the topic of sustainability and carfree development.
Reference design
Reference design refers to a technical blueprint of a system that is intended for others to copy. It contains the essential elements of the system; however, third parties may enhance or modify the design as required....
for the carfree city. Crawford is one of the founders of the carfree movement and is the author of two seminal books on the subject, Carfree Cities (2000, Foreword by James Howard Kunstler
James Howard Kunstler
James Howard Kunstler is an American author, social critic, public speaker, and blogger. He is best known for his books The Geography of Nowhere , a history of American suburbia and urban development, and the more recent The Long Emergency , where he argues that declining oil production is likely...
, author) and Carfree Design Manual (2009, Foreword by Stavros Dimas
Stavros Dimas
Stavros Dimas is a Greek politician who was European Commissioner for the Environment from 2004 to 2009. Since November 2011, he has served in the government of Greece as Minister for Foreign Affairs.-Early career:...
, EU Environment Minister).
Crawford was raised in northeastern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and studied sociology and social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. In the late 1970s, following graduate school, he worked providing welfare services to families and children. In 1979, as public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
for the New Jersey Department of Transportation
New Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey Department of Transportation is the agency responsible for transportation issues and policy in New Jersey. It is headed by the Commissioner of Transportation...
, a statewide bus and rail service
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
operator, Crawford studied public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
operations in association with the investigation of customer complaints.
In the early 1980s, Crawford served as a consultant to several resorts in coastal South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Among these was Sea Pines Plantation
Sea Pines Plantation
Sea Pines Resort or Sea Pines is a gated community in the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Sea Pines is home to the Harbour Town Golf Links, the Ocean Course, and Heron Point, formerly known as the Sea Marsh course....
, on Hilton Head Island. This planned beachfront golfing community includes a mix of houses, apartment buildings, restaurants, stores, activities, and Harbour Town, a small, dense community built around a circular boat basin dredged into the island. A quayside promenade, free of cars, surrounds the harbor. The harbor is fronted by multistory condominiums that are some of the most desirable housing on the island. In season and out, many people converge there, despite an entrance fee for nonresidents. This pioneering development was the work of Charles Fraser
Charles Fraser
Charles Fraser may refer to:* Charles Fraser , botanist and explorer of Australia* Charles Fraser , ice hockey player* Charles Fraser , missionary with the Scottish Missionary Society to Russian Tatary...
.
Also while in South Carolina, Crawford came under the influence of Christopher Alexander
Christopher Alexander
Christopher Wolfgang Alexander is a registered architect noted for his theories about design, and for more than 200 building projects in California, Japan, Mexico and around the world...
's A Pattern Language
A Pattern Language
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction is a 1977 book on architecture, urban design, and community livability. It was authored by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa and Murray Silverstein of the Center for Environmental Structure of Berkeley, California, with writing credits also to...
, a volume that the Next Whole Earth Catalog
Whole Earth Catalog
The Whole Earth Catalog was an American counterculture catalog published by Stewart Brand between 1968 and 1972, and occasionally thereafter, until 1998...
referred to as "The most important book in architecture" and the work that provided Crawford with a theoretical basis for understanding the popularity of partially carfree communities such as Harbour Town. This initiated his decades-long study of the advantages of carfree areas
Car-free zone
Pedestrian zones are areas of a city or town reserved for pedestrian only use and in which some or all automobile traffic may be prohibited. They are instituted by communities who feel that it is desirable to have pedestrian-only areas...
and the challenges they present.
He moved to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, The Netherlands in 1991 and became a dual national
Multiple citizenship
Multiple citizenship is a status in which a person is concurrently regarded as a citizen under the laws of more than one state. Multiple citizenships exist because different countries use different, and not necessarily mutually exclusive, citizenship requirements...
of the USA and The Netherlands. He first visited Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1991, a visit that gave a considerable impetus to his research.
In 1996 he put the carfree city concept on the Internet and gave a presentation at the Residential 2000 conference in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Since 1997 he has been the editor and publisher of Carfree.com and Carfree Times.
Since 2000 he has been a regular lecturer and radio presenter
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
on the topic of sustainability and carfree development.